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TN Visa Career Categories and Jobs List

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The TN visa was created as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to allow professionals to work more easily in North America. This visa type is only available to the careers and jobs specified in NAFTA, and is not available to all professional workers. Let’s take a look at the career categories and jobs list that qualify for a TN visa.

What are the basic qualifications for a TN visa?

In order to qualify for a TN visa, the applicant must:
  • Be a citizen (not a resident) of Canada or Mexico
  • Have a career in the relevant profession, along with specific credentials and licenses required to practice their job
  • Have an offer of employment  with a U.S. or foreign employer that requires business activities in the U.S. They may not be self-employed
  • Be able to pass entry requirements imposed by Customs and Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security
With these qualifications in mind, it’s important to understand which jobs are approved for a TN visa.

What are the approved TN visa careers and jobs?

Here are the professions that are eligible for a TN visa:

  • General Professions:
    • Accountant
    • Architect
    • Computer Systems Analyst
    • Disaster Relief Insurance Claims Adjuster
    • Economist
    • Engineer
    • Forester
    • Graphic Designer
    • Hotel Manager
    • Industrial Designer
    • Interior Designer
    • Land Surveyor
    • Landscape Architect
    • Lawyer
    • Librarian
    • Management Consultant
    • Mathematician
    • Range Manager/Range Conservationist
    • Research Assistant
    • Scientific Technician (within specified industries)
    • Social Worker
    • Sylviculturist
    • Technical Publications Writer
    • Urban Planner
    • Vocational Counselor

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  • Medical Professions:
    • Dentist
    • Dietician
    • Medical Laboratory Technologist
    • Nutritionist
    • Occupational Therapist
    • Pharmacist
    • Physician (teaching or research only)
    • Physiotherapist
    • Psychologist
    • Recreational Therapist
    • Registered Nurse
    • Veterinarian
  • Science Professions:
    • Agriculturist
    • Animal Breeder
    • Animal Scientist
    • Apiculturist
    • Astronomer
    • Biochemist
    • Biologist
    • Chemist
    • Dairy Scientist
    • Entomologist
    • Epidemiologist
    • Geneticist
    • Geologist
    • Geophysicist
    • Horticulturist
    • Meteorologist
    • Pharmacologist
    • Physicist
    • Plant Breeder
    • Poultry Scientist
    • Soil Scientist
    • Zoologist
  • Teaching Professions:
    • College Professor
    • Seminary Professor
    • University Professor
Each profession requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, and many require advanced degrees and/or professional licenses. See the official list of professions and qualifications here.

Who determines what jobs are on the TN visa list?

The jobs on the TN visa list are defined by the terms set out in NAFTA. While other visa categories may be periodically reviewed and updated due to changes in the labor market and employer demand, the TN visa is fixed in the terms of the treaty, and less likely to change. 

What are the differences between a TN and an H-1B visa?

Professionals wishing to live and work in the United States but who are not on the TN visa jobs list, or employers wishing to hire them, may consider an H-1B visa. Here is a brief overview of the key differences between a TN and an H-1B visa:
TN Visa H-1B Visa
Who qualifies? Educated and licensed professionals in the above-listed professions Educated and licensed professionals performing work in a greater number of specialty occupations
Employer-sponsored?  Yes Yes
Limited in number? No, everyone who meets the treaty terms is granted a visa Yes, only a set number of H-1B visas are issued every year
Length of visa Up to 3 years, with indefinite renewals 3 years, extendable to 6 years 
Dual intent? No Yes
For some professionals and their employers, “dual intent” may become an important factor. While a TN visa can be renewed every three years potentially indefinitely, it is specifically designated as a non-immigrant visa. TN visa holders must maintain a permanent residence in Canada or Mexico, and express the intent to return and live there. This means that TN visa holders may become disqualified to renew their visas if they eventually file for permanent residency in the U.S.
An H-1B visa, on the other hand, might be a better fit for persons who want to eventually seek permanent residency in the United States. The H-1B does allow for dual intent, which allows a visa holder to maintain nonimmigrant visa status while also seeking permanent resident status in the U.S.

How can Farmer Law help?

While the qualifications for a TN visa may seem fairly straightforward, the application process might not be. Furthermore, employers wishing to hire non-immigrant professional workers may need to consider whether a TN visa or the H-1B visa is the right choice for them and the employee. Qualified immigration attorneys like those at Farmer Law can discuss your options and guide employers and employees through the process, ensuring that professionals can migrate and work smoothly anywhere in North America.

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